Cockapoo or Cavapoo

[KaleQueen]

We’re taking the plunge with our first dog this year. In the research phase and it’s down to either a Cockapoo or Cavapoo. We’re going for male I think. We’re an active family and have one of us working from home. Two kids over age of 10 both sensible. Small ish house and mid size garden. Lots of fields and green space nearby. Want a dog that won’t chew our house to bits and be fairly well behaved! Committed to fully training them obviously as I know that’s an essential factor for behaviour. I adore dogs and walk others’ regularly so I’m really excited we’re taking this first step to get our own but I’m worried about making the wrong choice. Any advice would be hugely appreciated

I have a sprocker and a springer - my springer is a velcro dog and his recall is beyond brilliant. Always comes to me immediately. The sprocker can be wilful and easily seduced by the scent of a deer in our local woods, but with very consistent training (which after 4+yrs we now now must be continuously reinforced, not ever assumed to have been learned) he does return. I’ve not had a poodle cross, but have several friends with cavapoos and cockerpoos and all of them have been healthy, affectionate, loyal and very responsive to training.

It’s consistency of training and lots of love that seems to shape a dog and it does seem as though OP is committed to that. I’d just shop around and not use someone who breeds multiple dogs as a business. All of our dogs have started lives in a family home so that when they’ve come to us at 10-11 weeks, they’ve been really happy in our home.

Get a rescue dog- don't give money to breeders.

It is so hard to get a rescue dog when you have kids. I looked for 8 months when my kids were 8 and 9 and there was just none that they would place in a home with kids. Maybe it has changed now, this was pre-pandemic, but I suspect not.

This isn’t particularly helpful advice for a family with children, allergies and no experience of handling behavioural problems. Many rescues won’t give to families with children at all, and lots of owners underestimate the impact of poor treatment in earlier life on a dog’s behaviour. Throw the need for a low shedding coat into the mix and the OP might as well be looking for a unicorn.

Do you know how vanishingly rare a young, non shedding, totally behavioural and physical problem free rescue dog suited to a family with no experience is?
She might just as well look for a unicorn

@Yetanotherone12 aww he looks amazing and looks just like my sister’s cockapoo (who is now 5). His dad was ‘very’ white poodle poodle complete with fancy hairstyle 🤣 How did you approach finding him?

Sorry I misquoted @Yetanotherone12 there somehow. Meant for @AnnPerkins

Can you good people advise: is this the kind of advert that would inspire confidence in the puppies? Or is it dodgy to advertise them on sites like this?
www.pets4homes.co.uk/classifieds/lsqwuq-6s-kc-reg-apricot-miniature-poodle-airdrie/

@KaleQueen hi OP, no real advice on dog breeds as you’ve had lots already and I have only ever owned one dog and I got him a year ago 😂

Just wanted to say, I did the same as you and thought I had done all the research, posted on this forum about the breed I thought I wanted and very much got my backside handed to me 😂 but the advice was correct and I did change my direction and ended up with a Lab and I am so pleased with him. Hasn’t destroyed anything save for the odd sock, is really easy to train and calm in the house etc - not the breed for you because of the shedding but I guess the point is, you’ve at least come here and asked the question before taking the plunge. Many don’t, and that’s a massive gamble. The right dog can enrich your life so much and the wrong one can make life very hard. There are a lot of knowledgeable people here. And I add a pic of my handsome boy, the result of following the advice I got 😂

Well done for getting advice and especially for listening to the advice you got here

personally I think that all the people such a yourself who say they want a dog that is essentially a teddy bear but alive, is not really a real dog person. I see so many of these poo-breeds on my dog walks, a lot of them are nice enough but also quite a lot are totally out of control and as bit bonkers and clearly chosen for look rather than temperament

a dog is NOT a living teddy bear. Choosing the bread based on this is such a bad idea, will the children even understand how to treat a real dog?

it is a very fashionable cross-breed for the reason you described but it would also make it really hard to find a decent breeder. My neighbour bred her cockapoo with another random cockapoo a she could sell them for 2.5k each and she bought a new car of the proceeds , it can be a quick money making scheme… not sure I’d want to buy into that…

I think people generally say don't buy from sites such as that one and also, that reputable breeders should already have prospective buyers lined up before mating. However, it is one of the more confidence inducing ads I have seen on that site. Most sellers don't even seem to be able to spell the breed name of the pups they are selling.

On the face of it, it looks legit but it would be good to know how many litters they have had and the frequency, but also how many dogs they have that they are breeding from. You don't want to support a puppy farm obviously.

@KaleQueen on the face of the advert...they look okay.

But how old is the bitch? How many litters has she had? How many other dogs are in the home (stud isn't owned by them)? I don't think anyone can say it's a good litter based on the available information.

I dislike Pets4Homes, as I like my breeder contemporaries (I breed - but Goldens) to use Kennel Club for proof of lineage and also health tests. Lots of bad breeders lure people in with promises of health tested dogs then work on the (accurate) assumption once you're in the door you'll forget to ask for proof of health tests. I also dislike people who breed without homes lined up - they should be vetting prospective owners properly.

That being said, in this case I know the stud's health tests are legitimate as I googled 😁Worth asking the questions about the bitch i've listed above! None of my googling allowed me to find her and check her age and/or health tests

@VanGoSunflowers that bollocking (sorry) you took from me resulted in the bestest boy ever. But yes, a very good example of realising what does and doesn't work in terms of the 'right' dog

Oh can I just add, again ignore my advice as I’m a novice but my friend’s partner has asthma… can’t be around cats at all and certain dogs set him off but they have a rescue greyhound. They’re on their second as there last girl passed away, they only picked her up a couple of weeks ago and she’s settled in beautifully. She’s a really sweet girl! Not sure if they match your other requirements, they are bigger of course but the ones I know have all been very relaxed and don’t need loads of exercise. Just thought I’d throw it in there!

We found our dogs through word of mouth. Asking around, getting in touch with recommended breeders, waiting lists, it was a whole process. We also got a “reject”/rescue through word of mouth who was the sweetest most gorgeous dog ever, we paid £200

Thank you. It’s def been eye opening! He looks fab. It’s such a big and important decision and need to get it right.

@VanGoSunflowers 💕💕💕 my rescue girl was a greyhound-lurcher

most loved dog ever

but they look nothing like a teddy bear which is what OP is after

That’s my kids requirement not mine. They are smitten by the ‘cute factor’ they see in that type of dog. Don’t worry I’m not stupid. Also edited to add, I believe I am a dog person. I’ve wanted a dog all my life. We had a puppy as kids and he was sent back in weeks as my mother couldn’t cope. I’ve had experiences (through wider family) with crazy brilliant German Shepherds, Jack Russell, in laws bred and raced greyhounds (outdoor kennels for them) springer spaniels, a cocker spaniel, a very very large and boisterous golden retriever, one ‘57 varieties’ mongrel, and more lately, my cockapoo ‘nephew’, our best friend’s Cavapoo, and a shitzu. I am pretty much obsessed with dogs just never owned my own but have been involved with many.

I know some people have a visceral reaction to P4H, and I would agree that you need to do extra due diligence if you're buying from there. That being said, we got an excellent dog from a P4H ad: I had a long chat with the breeder, who knew what he was doing, and who made quite sure that our home was one he wanted his puppy going to. He showed me videos on his phone of the dam working, had a photo on the ad showing the sire working, and FB friended me so I could absolutely trawl his profile, and he mine. He sent regular puppy updates once we'd seen the litter and chosen our puppy. I was very happy with the way he kept the litter - they had time in various places in the house and in the garden, the other dog in the house was allowed to nanny them as they got older (she was fabulous with them), and they were exposed to household noises, children etc. He kept in touch for years, and was often one of the first to like a post that featured the dog he'd sold me.

So not every P4H advertiser is a complete scumbag. Unfortunately some are, and have got good at hiding it. So you do really have to drill down.

It's good that the ad mentions socialisation, and grooming costs (though iirc it's often the dander, not the fur, that causes allergies)
I'd like to know from the advert what health tests have been done.
I like the COI - but I'd like to see proof of that from the breeder.
I'm not 100% sure that the whelping box is AOK for overlying - but someone who knows more than me about breeding can advise you there.

@KaleQueen that advert looks to have the important things that you're looking for. We all feel a bit 😬about P4H , but there are genuine breeders using it occasionally.

Presumably, you live near enough to visit the litter at least once before they're weaned, to see them with mum. A good breeder will want to vet you too, make sure you're right for their pups. You definitely get a feel of who they are and what their set up is like.
Don't be afraid to ask questions or walk away if it feels wrong.
My first dog was a Mini Poodle. They're fantastic dogs.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks no sorrys necessary 😂 you were correct! Besides I’ve had so much advice since I got him from you and other lovely people on here that it was worth it!

I was going to say this. I have a Miniature Schnauzer and he's exactly like you described wanting a dog to be. Not too big, not too small, very loving and smart, not aggressive, ridiculously sociable, not scared of anything, loves a pub trip and on top of it all an absolute stunner!

I have allergies and wouldn't get a poo as you have no guarantee about their coat favouring one side or another.

Miniature Schnauzers are considered "non shed" by KC and although no dog is truly hypoallergenic I know a few people who are unable to tolerate some dogs who got a Mini and are fine.

I don't think you're not ready for a dog as others have said, can tell you're thinking about it the right way. There's quite a few reputable Mini Schnauzer breeders on KC website if they're an option.

It's definitely worth getting in contact with them but be prepared to walk away just in case and go in armed with lots of questions

A good breeder will also question you about your family and set up regarding work

And a really good breeder will direct you to the pup that matches your family best

I can't stand breeders letting people pick by coat colour, I know this litter they are all pretty much identical but just incase you end up looking at a different litter the dog that looks cutest may not be the best suited personality wise.

I'm constantly asked to breed my cardi just because he is merle with tan points and heterochromia.
I didn't pick him fyi he was offered to me after his home fell through
Honestly he is absolutely stunning but he's not good enough to breed but people just like the fancy colours.

I’d want to know what tests it’s recommended that poodles have, iirc maybe PRA. And if so have the parents been tested clear for that? I don’t see a mention of that on the advert and if I’m paying 2k I’d want all the recommended testing.

acquaintance of mine is an unethical backyard breeder of poodle crosses and she sold a litter where some went blind very young. Like within weeks of being in their new homes. She carried on breeding from that bitch too irrc.

If you cross two poodles would it be referred to as a poo-poo?

If you absolutely must get a cross rather than a poodle get a Cavapoo.

Cockapoos are very cute but tend to be tricky about food, neurotic and clingy.